New Product Development Project Manager

Our client:

Our client is a large, global multinational in the packaging industry. Around 25 scientists, engineers and technicians work at their R&D Competence Center specialised in food & beverage packaging based in the Basel Area. Apart from lab instruments and equipment, the site has two injection molding machines for producing test batches as well as equipment for transit tests.

Job description:

In the context of the expansion of the team, we are looking for an experienced NPD Project Manager, who would report directly into the Division R&D Director and will be a key person in fulfilling the company’s product strategy to develop new products focusing on increased usage of recycled material, lightweight and compliant with new regulations on food & beverage packaging, like recycling and food safety.

The main responsibilities in new product development can be summarized in:

• End-to-end project management responsibility for shaping and delivering multiple projects

• Lead delivery of high-profile and strategic projects across the business

• Report project status to the Sponsor and /or Steering Committee on a regular basis

• Identify risks to the project and implement contingency plans

• Solve problems identifying the root cause and establish action plans to mitigate them in the future

This role has a close interaction with several factories in Europe and Asia which produce the packaging products developed and designed in Basel. You will be involved in the technical transfer (industrialization) and provide technical support across the life cycle of the product. This includes topics related with quality and manufacturing excellence.

Candidate profile:

We are looking for somebody with an educational background in mechanical engineering or material science or equivalent technical degree.

We expect at least 5 years of experience in project management / project engineering in a similar position within the consumer goods packaging industry. There is a preference for somebody with a track-record in the plastics packaging sector, familiar with injection molding technology, ideally in the food & beverage business.

Project Management Professional (PMP) / PRINCE II certification would be a plus.

For this role we require a person with excellent client-facing and internal communication and stakeholder management skills.

Solid organizational skills, including attention to detail and multitasking capabilities are essential.

We expect expertise in Microsoft Office and project management software tools (e.g. MS Project)

Fluent English skills is a must for this job, additional languages like German or Italian would be an advantage.

Note:

Please note that we would only consider candidates with a valid Swiss work permit or who are eligible to work in Switzerland (Swiss/EU/EFTA nationals).